AMERICA FERRARA IN LAST UGLY BETTY SHOW

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THE WEB GOSSIP
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The guy or girl that writes this column is a very big industry insider who wishes to remain anonymous, but wants to write about all the headlines happening in Hollywood and the Music Industry.

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Deborah Gibson

CHUCK PULIN RIP --- Last week legendary rock photographer Chuck Pulin passed away in his sleep. I had the pleasure of knowing Chuck for the past twenty years or so, and though he was a curmudgeon of the greatest order, his no BS approach to all things served him very well. Long before I knew him, he worked at NBC News as a writer and according to friends, he'd always hear “if only we had a photo of this story.” … so, he started bringing a camera. Chuck became a legitimate rock photographer in the early '70s, where he photographed everyone from Elvis Presley to Madonna, Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Bon Jovi, and in essence paved the way for the likes of Bob Gruen, Mick Rock, and Jim Marshall. The famous photo of Lennon and Elton in the Garden in 1974 ... that was his. His works appeared worldwide and he was proudly represented by the NY-based firm Starfile and Virginia Loehle. His friend Eileen Millan said, “I think the only one he missed out on, and would have loved to photographed, was Jimi Hendrix.” He also had a long run at Billboard magazine as their main photographer. Many of the photos in the’ 70s and ‘80s in Billboard were his. Ken Schlager, formerly the editor of Billboard, said, “If you went to any important show, you would always see Chuck there shooting the event. For Chuck music and photography was just as much as a lifestyle as it was a vocation and I think the musicians immediately sensed this, which is why they were so comfortable whenever he was taking photos.” I know for a fact that Pulin was one of the last holdouts regarding ‘going digital’ and the fact is that it hurt his business. PR-man David Salidor, who worked with Pulin through the golden ‘70s and ‘80s (with Run DMC, Deborah Gibson, Jellybean, and Madonna) said, “He was without question in the top five in his field … but, not being digitally oriented when everyone else was, made getting his stuff take just a bit longer to get. I well remember him getting me the shots the next day with negatives … and, the discs. But, that said, working with him remains one of the highlights of my career … he was, the best!” In ‘90s and beyond, Pulin was a fixture at Steve Walter’s The Cutting Room … and, his take on the business in general was as spicy as ever. A true pioneer … he will be missed. God bless him.

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America Ferrara

UGLY BETTY OVER AND OUT --- Last week was the four-year finale show to ABC’s “Ugly Betty.” To me, the show was a minor miracle in TV; it wasn't just about fashion, but men and women in general overcoming their perceived shortcomings. It also dealt with alternative lifestyles, minorities rarely seen on TV and more often than not, things you just never before on the tube. The cast was uniformly terrific (with America Ferrara as ‘Betty’ and the terrific ‘Eric Mabius’ as Daniel) and more times than I can remember, pulled at your heartstrings. The show had … a lot of heart. It also used music, from Coldplay to Madonna just so perfectly. Their music budget must have been very high, but then the show had such a terrific, rich quality about it. The final scene of the show found Betty relocating the London for even more new adventures, and, as the closing scene closed … the name of the show appeared for a quick minute, then the “Ugly” part disappeared… just leaving the word “Betty.” As classy an ending as I've ever seen. Truth be told, the show could have gone on and on. I'll miss it. Silvio Horta … terrific job! FORWARD ALL ---Last Thursday, ABC’s “Flash Forward” aired its best ever episode ever, called “The Garden of Forking Paths.” The episode finally resolved several on the ongoing mysteries and even a character that was suppose to die … was saved, and in the process, a huge hand-drawn map of all of the show’s conflicts and mysteries (and characters), was suddenly washed away. It was an amazing moment. Pivotal and very compelling. Ever since the show’s debut last September, it has been almost universally maligned one way of the other. With a hiatus of almost three months and several sets of show runners, it’s had a rather tough time. I have to say that I still find Joseph Fiennes totally captivating and certainly at the center of each scene he’s in. If I were ABC … I'd give this cat one more life line. Let’s face it; the network doesn't have the best record of saving shows in trouble; “Life On Mars,” “The Nine” and certainly “Ugly Betty” come to mind. It’s not my call, but after last week’s show, which rivaled the best episodes of “Lost,” I'd give them certainly another season. Terrific job all!

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Todd Rundgren

STEVENS DOES A TODD --- Our favorite Jersey-based singer Larry Stevens opened for Todd Rundgren several weeks back and we wanted to report and update that after a compelling performance, he is now locked in a bidding war with several major record companies. Stevens, who is prepping a new disc in NY right now, would in this writer’s opinion, be a valued asset to any record concern. Writer, performer, producer … he’s a virtual one-stop shop. His two CDs, “Heart of A Fighter” and “Downstairs At Mayo’s” contain come of the most compelling tracks we've heard in quite some time. All the best Mr. Stevens. Check him out … www.larrystevensband.com. HAPPY TOWN USA – Have you seen the previews for ABC’s new show “: Happy Town?” Looking like a bastard-cousin of “Twin Peaks,” with Stacey Keach of all people in a starring role, it appears to be positively riveting. Will it last? Who knows .... it's on ABC!

Photos By: Sara De Boer/Walter Mcbride/Retna